阅读说明：本技术 调色剂补给装置及图像形成装置 (Toner supply device and image forming apparatus ) 是由 户村有佑 本美胜史 大里侑生 室田孝一 西崎伸吾 于 2021-05-26 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及减少保护接地等零件并减少零件数量的调色剂补给装置及图像形成装置。向图像形成装置补给调色剂容器的调色剂的调色剂补给装置包括相对于所述调色剂容器来设置的电极部、基于所述电极部测量的静电容量值来计算所述调色剂的量的计算部以及控制所述电极部以成为发送用于测量所述静电容量值的电波的发送电极、接收所述电波的接收电极或接地中的任一个的控制部。(The present invention relates to a toner replenishing device and an image forming apparatus, which reduce components such as a protective ground and the like and reduce the number of components. The toner replenishing device for replenishing toner of a toner container to an image forming apparatus includes an electrode unit provided to the toner container, a calculation unit for calculating an amount of the toner based on a value of electrostatic capacity measured by the electrode unit, and a control unit for controlling the electrode unit so as to be either a transmission electrode for transmitting a radio wave for measuring the value of the electrostatic capacity, a reception electrode for receiving the radio wave, or a ground.)

1. A toner replenishing device that replenishes toner of a toner container to an image forming apparatus, characterized by comprising:

an electrode portion provided with respect to the toner container;

a calculation section that calculates an amount of the toner based on the electrostatic capacity value measured by the electrode section;

and a control unit that controls the electrode unit so as to be either a transmission electrode that transmits a radio wave for measuring the electrostatic capacity value, a reception electrode that receives the radio wave, or a ground.

2. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1, characterized in that:

in the case of using a plurality of the toner containers, when calculating the amount of the toner in a first toner container among the plurality of toner containers, the control portion controls so that a first electrode pair, which is a pair of the electrode portions provided with respect to the first toner container, becomes a pair of the transmitting electrode and the receiving electrode, and controls so that the electrode portion of at least one of a second electrode pair, which is a pair of the electrode portions provided with respect to a second toner container, which is different from the first toner container, among the plurality of toner containers, becomes the ground.

3. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that:

the control unit switches the transmission electrode, the reception electrode, or the ground under the control of a microcomputer.

4. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that:

the control unit switches the transmission electrode, the reception electrode, or the ground by a switch.

5. The toner replenishing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that:

in the case where three or more toner containers are used, the calculation portion calculates the amount of the toner in the plurality of toner containers provided apart from one or more toner containers.

6. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that:

the toner replenishing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a toner supply device and an image forming apparatus.

Background

In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a technique of detecting a toner remaining amount in a toner tank is known.

For example, a toner remaining amount detecting means for determining an electrostatic capacity is known for detecting the toner remaining amount. Specifically, two detection electrodes are provided at a predetermined interval on a tank support member made of a high-resistance insulating material. Then, a detachable toner tank is provided on the detection electrode. In this way, the time until the potential difference between the electrodes reaches a predetermined value is measured to determine the remaining amount of toner (for example, patent document 1).

In the prior art, a protective grounding member is used. Therefore, in the prior art, the number of parts is large, and the size and cost may increase.

An object of one embodiment of the present invention is to reduce the number of components for protecting ground and the like.

[ patent document 1 ] Japanese laid-open patent application No. 2004-286792

Disclosure of Invention

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a toner replenishing device for replenishing toner of a toner container to an image forming apparatus, including: an electrode portion provided with respect to the toner container; a calculation section that calculates an amount of the toner based on the electrostatic capacity value measured by the electrode section; and a control unit that controls the electrode unit so as to be either a transmission electrode that transmits a radio wave for measuring the electrostatic capacity value, a reception electrode that receives the radio wave, or a ground.

The number of parts for protecting the ground and the like can be reduced, and the number of parts can be reduced.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an exemplary view of a toner replenishing device.

Fig. 2 is a view showing an exemplary configuration of the electrode portion.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an exemplary configuration of a comparative example of an electrode portion.

Fig. 4 is an illustration of toner offset.

Fig. 5 is a view illustrating measurement in the comparative example.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an exemplary configuration of the calculation unit.

Fig. 7 is an exemplary view showing the use of a plurality of toner containers.

Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating handover.

Fig. 9 shows a comparative example.

Fig. 10 shows an exemplary functional configuration.

Detailed Description

The best and minimum embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same components, and redundant description is omitted. The specific examples shown in the drawings are illustrative, and configurations other than those shown in the drawings may be further included.

< first embodiment >

For example, a case where the image forming apparatus has a configuration of a toner replenishing apparatus as follows will be described as an example. However, the toner supply device and the image forming apparatus may be configured integrally or may be configured as another device such as a detachable device.

< example of toner supply device >

Fig. 1 is an exemplary view of a toner replenishing device. For example, the toner supply device 100 supplies toner to the image forming apparatus via a toner container 32 as shown in the drawing.

Hereinafter, the longitudinal direction of the toner container 32 is referred to as "Y axis". On the other hand, a direction perpendicular to the Y axis and becoming a so-called gravity direction is referred to as a "Z axis". The direction perpendicular to the Y axis and in the so-called horizontal direction is referred to as the "X axis".

The toner container 32 is supported by the guide member 72. The toner container 32 is, for example, a substantially cylindrical toner tank. The toner container 32 is constituted by, for example, a lid 34 held in a toner container housing portion in a non-rotating manner and a container main body 33 in which a gear 33c is integrally formed.

The container body 33 is held to be relatively rotatable with respect to the cover 34. Specifically, the gear 33c is engaged with the drive output gear 81. Then, when drive motor 91 rotationally drives output gear 81, since the drive is transmitted to gear 33c, the outer peripheral surface of container body 33 is guided while container body 33 is rotationally driven.

When the container main body 33 rotates, the toner contained in the container main body 33 is transported in the longitudinal direction of the container main body 33 by the spiral protrusion 331 formed in a spiral shape on the inner peripheral surface of the container main body 33. In the illustrated example, the toner is conveyed from left to right. Then, the transported toner is discharged from the toner container 32 and supplied to the hopper portion 61. That is, when the container main body 33 is rotated by the driving motor 91, the toner is supplied to the hopper portion 61. Then, the toner is replenished to the image forming apparatus by the rotation of the toner conveying screw 62.

The toner containers 32 are provided for each color, such as Y, M, C and K, for example. When the toner container 32 reaches the end of its life (for example, when the amount of toner in the toner container 32 becomes equal to or less than a certain amount), the toner container is replaced with a new one.

For example, the electrode portions are provided in a pair with respect to the toner container 32. Specifically, the electrode portion is provided above and below the toner container 32 so as to cover most of the toner container 32. In this example, the "first electrode plate 65" is provided at a position above the toner container 32, and the "second electrode plate 66" is provided at a position below the toner container 32.

The electrode portion is formed of, for example, a conductive member. Specifically, the first electrode plate 65 and the second electrode plate 66 are members of iron or the like.

The positions and the number of the first electrode plate 65 and the second electrode plate 66 may be other than those shown in the drawings.

The cross section "a-a" in the drawing shows the structure of the electrode portion, and the structure is as follows.

Fig. 2 is an exemplary view showing the structure of the electrode portion. In the illustrated example, the electrostatic capacity value measuring device 111 measures the electrostatic capacity value between the first electrode plate 65 and the second electrode plate 66.

The static capacitance value is measured by, for example, a charging method or the like. Specifically, in the charging method, a constant voltage and current are applied to the first electrode plate 65 and the second electrode plate 66. Then, the electrostatic capacity value is measured from the relationship between the time until the charging point is reached and the current and voltage.

The value of the electrostatic capacity varies according to the dielectric constant between the first electrode plate 65 and the second electrode plate 66. Therefore, since the dielectric constant changes when the amount of toner changes inside the toner container 32, the amount of toner can be calculated by measuring the value of the electrostatic capacity. Specifically, since the dielectric constant of the toner is high with respect to air, when the amount of the toner is large, the dielectric constant increases.

The capacitance value may be measured by a method other than the charging method.

With the configuration shown in the figure, the electrostatic capacity value can be measured with higher accuracy than with the configuration disclosed in, for example, japanese patent application laid-open No. 07-092802.

The toner container 32 is configured to rotate, but is often rotated eccentrically due to dimensional tolerances and the like. With the configuration as shown in the drawing, if the toner container 32 is provided between the first electrode plate 65 and the second electrode plate 66, the electrostatic capacity value can be measured with high accuracy by measuring substantially the same amount of toner as long as the amount of toner is the same regardless of the change in the position of the toner container 32.

In addition, the first electrode plate 65 and the second electrode plate 66 are preferably parallel plates. Hereinafter, the structure of the parallel plate will be described in comparison with the structure using the arc-shaped electrode portion as described below.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an exemplary configuration of a comparative example of an electrode portion. As shown in the drawing, the comparative example of the arc-shaped electrode portions such as the upper arc plate 201 and the lower arc plate 202 will be described by comparison. In the electrode portion having such a shape, toner may be biased as described below.

Fig. 4 is an illustration of toner offset. For example, as shown in the drawing, the toner T may be partially offset (in the illustrated example, the toner T is offset to the right in the drawing). If such a bias exists, the following measurement results are obtained, for example.

Fig. 5 is a view illustrating measurement in the comparative example. For example, when the upper arc plate 201 serves as a transmission electrode and the lower arc plate 202 serves as a reception electrode, electric lines of force of radio waves transmitted by the upper arc plate 201 are as shown in the figure.

In the case of an arc-shaped electrode portion, the density of electric flux lines differs between the end portion (for example, the region indicated by "end portion a" in the drawing) and the central portion (for example, the region indicated by "central portion B" in the drawing). Therefore, even if the amount of toner T is the same as a whole, when toner T is biased, the measurement result may be different from that when toner T is uniform.

On the other hand, if the first electrode plate 65 and the second electrode plate 66 are parallel plates, even if the toner T is biased, the amount of toner can be measured with the same accuracy as long as the amount is the same as the whole.

The calculation means 112 calculates the amount of toner from the electrostatic capacity value measured by the electrostatic capacity value measurement means 111. For example, the computing device 112 is a CPU (Central processing Unit), an electronic circuit, a combination thereof, or the like. The calculation unit may have the following configuration.

Fig. 6 is an exemplary diagram illustrating the configuration of the calculation unit. For example, as shown in the figure, the computing device 112 is a hardware configuration having the detection substrate 10.

The detection substrate 10 is an electronic printed circuit board on which a microcomputer 101 as an example of a computing device and a control device is mounted. In addition, a storage device 102 such as a nonvolatile memory is mounted on the detection substrate 10. Therefore, the microcomputer 101 executes various processes in cooperation with hardware such as the storage device 102.

The computing unit may be configured using a computing device other than the microcomputer 101. For example, as shown in the figure, the calculation may be performed by an external apparatus such as an image forming apparatus. In the illustrated example, the detection board 10 and the engine control board 11 communicate with each other. That is, the CPU103 or the like mounted on the engine control board 11 may be used as the calculation unit.

The calculation unit may be configured to perform calculation using a server or the like on the cloud connected via a network or the like.

For example, when the image forming apparatus forms images of four colors, the toner containers are provided for each color as shown in the drawing. Specifically, in this example, four toner containers such as a yellow toner container 321, a magenta toner container 322, a cyan toner container 323, and a black toner container 324 are used.

In this way, in the case of using a plurality of toners, the amounts of the toners are calculated individually for each toner container. Therefore, in this example, the amount of toner is calculated separately for each color.

In order to calculate the amount of toner separately for each toner container, a pair of electrode portions are provided separately in the toner container. Specifically, the illustrated example is configured such that 11 th electrode portions 3211 and 12 th electrode portions 3212 are provided in the yellow toner container 321. Similarly, the 21 st electrode portion 3221 and the 22 nd electrode portion 3222 are provided for the magenta toner container 322. Further, the 31 st electrode portion 3231 and the 32 nd electrode portion 3232 are provided for the cyan toner container 323. Further, the 41 th electrode portion 3241 and the 42 th electrode portion 3242 are provided for the black toner container 324.

The number and type of toner containers and the configuration of the electrode portion will be described below by way of example as shown in the drawings.

Fig. 7 is an exemplary view showing the use of a plurality of toner containers. As shown in the drawing, a pair of electrode portions is provided for each toner container. Then, the entire protection ground 12 and the like are provided so as to include all the toner containers and all the electrode portions.

Then, the control unit switches each electrode unit to one of a transmission electrode, a reception electrode, and a ground (hereinafter, also referred to as "GND"). Specifically, the following handover is performed.

Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating handover. In the illustrated example, the toner amount in magenta toner container 322 is calculated. Hereinafter, like the magenta toner container 322 in this example, the toner container to be an object of calculating the toner amount is referred to as a "first toner container". On the other hand, a toner container different from the first toner container, i.e., in this example, the yellow toner container 321, the cyan toner container 323, the black toner container 324, or a combination thereof is referred to as a "second toner container".

In the example in which the magenta toner container 322 is used as the first toner container, the pair of electrode portions provided in the first toner container (the pair of the 21 st electrode portion 3221 and the 22 nd electrode portion 3222 in this example) is referred to as a "first electrode pair P1". On the other hand, a pair of electrode portions provided for the yellow toner container 321 and the like as an example of the second toner container (in this example, a pair of the 11 th electrode portion 3211 and the 12 th electrode portion 3212, but may be electrode portions provided for other color toner containers) is referred to as a "second electrode pair P2".

As shown in the drawing, the microcomputer 101 controls to switch each electrode portion to any one of the transmission electrode, the reception electrode, and the ground. Specifically, this example is a control example in which the second electrode pair P2 and the like are grounded. On the other hand, this example is a control example in which the 21 st electrode portion 3221 and the 22 nd electrode portion 3222 in the 1 st electrode pair P1 are the transmitting electrode and the receiving electrode, respectively.

In the case of performing such control, as shown in the drawing, parts such as a ground for protection provided between the toner containers can be reduced as compared with the comparative example described below.

As shown in the drawing, the microcomputer 101 can switch between the transmission electrode, the reception electrode, and the ground, and can flexibly change the electrode portion to the detection or the guard ground.

In this way, it is preferable to have a configuration in which each electrode portion can be switched to any one of the transmission electrode, the reception electrode, and the ground.

In the case where three or more toner containers are used and the amounts of two or more toners are measured at the same time, it is preferable to calculate the amounts of the two or more toners by combining a plurality of toner containers provided apart from one or more toner containers.

In the case of using four toner containers, the combination of calculating the amounts of toner is preferably, for example, a combination of "Y" and "C" (a combination of skipping "M"), and a combination of "M" and "K" (a combination of skipping "C"). That is, it is preferable to simultaneously calculate the amounts of toner in non-adjacent toner containers. In addition, when a special color is used, a combination with the special color may be used.

For example, in the combination of "Y" and "C", the electrode portions provided for "M" and "K" (specifically, the 21 st electrode portion 3221, the 22 nd electrode portion 3222, the 41 st electrode portion 3241, and the 42 th electrode portion 3242) are controlled to be grounded in the calculation. In this way, the adjacent electrodes function as a ground protection for the toner container to be calculated. Therefore, the amount of toner can be calculated with high accuracy.

The toner container to be calculated may be provided separately from one or more toner containers, or may be separated from a combination of two or more toner containers. Specifically, a combination of "Y" and "K" may be used.

< comparative example >

FIG. 9 shows a diagram of a comparative example. In this comparative example, each electrode portion functions as a transmitting electrode or a receiving electrode to be fixed. In this configuration, as shown in the drawing, a guard ground 300 is inserted between the toner containers and the like to reduce the influence of disturbance in measurement. Therefore, the protective earth 300 has a large number of components.

Thus, if the number of parts is large, the size becomes large, the weight increases, the cost increases, and the like.

The configuration shown in fig. 7 is a configuration in which the number of components for protecting the ground 300 is reduced as compared with the comparative example. Therefore, it is possible to achieve downsizing, weight saving, cost reduction, and the like, as compared with the comparative example. Further, even if there is no part for protecting the ground 300, the influence of the disturbance can be reduced, and the amount of toner can be measured with high accuracy.

< modification example >

Further, the toner supply device 100 may have a configuration including a temperature sensor and the like. That is, in order to detect the peripheral temperature of the toner container 32 and calculate the amount of toner, correction may be performed according to the temperature.

When the members constituting the upper wall surface 67 and the lower wall surface 68 on which the first electrode plate 65 and the second electrode plate 66 are provided expand and contract due to heat, the electrode portions may change. That is, the deformation of the upper wall surface 67 and the lower wall surface 68 may affect the capacitance value measured by the electrode portion. Therefore, if the structure is such that the influence of such a temperature change is corrected by measuring the temperature, the electrostatic capacity value can be measured with high accuracy.

As shown in the drawing, the toner supply device 100 may have a configuration including an output device 115. The output device 115 is, for example, an operation panel or the like. That is, the output device 115 is a device that displays the toner amount or the like calculated by the calculation device 112. Thus, when the amount of toner is output, the timing of replacing the toner container can be known.

Further, the hardware configuration is not limited to the above example. For example, a configuration using a computing device, a control device, a storage device, an input device, or an output device other than those shown in the above examples may be employed. On the other hand, the calculation device, the control device, the storage device, the input device, or the output device may be configured to be used in common with the toner replenishing device and the image forming apparatus.

< example of function configuration >

Fig. 10 shows an exemplary functional configuration. For example, the toner supply device 100 includes a plurality of electrode portions F1, a calculation portion F2, and a control portion F3. The image forming apparatus 1000 includes the image forming unit F4.

The electrode portion F1 is provided with respect to the toner container 32. One of the pair of electrode portions F1 serves as a transmission electrode for transmitting a radio wave for measuring a static capacitance value. The other of the pair of electrode portions F1 serves as a reception electrode for receiving radio waves.

The calculation portion F2 calculates the amount of toner in the toner container 32 from the electrostatic capacity value measured by the electrode portion. For example, the calculation unit F2 is realized by the microcomputer 101, the CPU103, or the like.

The controller F3 controls the electrode portion F1 to be one of the transmission electrode, the reception electrode, and the ground. For example, the control unit F3 is realized by the microcomputer 101, the CPU103, or the like.

The image forming unit F4 receives toner supply from the toner supply device 100 and forms an image on a recording medium.

< example of image Forming apparatus >

The image forming apparatus is, for example, a printer or the like. That is, a printer is an apparatus that forms an image on paper or the like using powder such as toner.

The image forming apparatus is not limited to a printer, and may be any apparatus that forms an image by performing processes such as charging, exposure, development, transfer, fixing, and cleaning using powder. For example, the image forming apparatus is an MFP (multifunction peripheral), a copying machine, a multifunction peripheral, a copier, a FAX, or the like.

< other embodiments >

The above-described embodiments may be combined and implemented. That is, a part or the whole of each embodiment may be combined.

Further, all or a part of the entire process may be described in a computer language and realized by a program for causing a computer to execute the toner amount measuring method. That is, the program is a computer program for causing a toner amount measuring method using a computer or using two or more computers to execute each process.

Therefore, when the toner amount measuring method is executed based on a program, an arithmetic device and a control device provided in the computer perform arithmetic and control based on the program in order to execute each process. The storage device of the computer stores data used for processing in accordance with a program for executing each process. Further, a part of the processing may be executed by an electronic circuit.

The program may be recorded in a computer-readable storage medium and distributed. The storage medium is a medium such as a magnetic tape, a flash memory, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a magnetic disk. Further, the program may be distributed through a telecommunication line.

The embodiment according to the present invention can also be realized by an image forming system. In addition, the image forming system can also perform the respective processes and the storage of data by redundancy, decentralization, parallel, virtualization, or a combination thereof.

The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the requirements shown in the above embodiments. These may be modified within a range not to impair the gist of the present invention, and may be appropriately determined according to the application form thereof.